jwbrockman

My mom has an '03 Honda CRV EX AWD AT with about 80k and it is demonstrating some intermittent driveline shudder, mostly when traveling at a constant speed. It almost feels like a clutch shudder, it's pretty noticeable and felt throughout the car. It's pretty intermittent though, it might go a couple days without doing it. It mostly seems to happen at moderate speeds (30-45). I have already changed out the rear diff fluid with Honda Dual Pump Fluid, and it didn't really help. The next thing i'll try is a trans fluid change, but I don't know if that will do any good. I am fearing that it might be a torque converter or other internal transmission issue, and the insides of an automatic transmission are essentially voodoo to me. So I am really hoping it doesn't come to that. Does anyone know of any particular issues with these trannies, or any good place to ask? From my searches online, it seems like there aren't any really active forums for 2nd-gen CRVs, and they also don't appear to break in any common, predictable ways. Thanks for any help.

Josh

Ross 2.0

Your right they don't break much at all. I would just change the ATF with honda fluid and see if that helps to start with. Have you checked tire balance and everything?

jwbrockman

I just picked up 5 qts of ATF at the Honda dealer, I'll change it out and report back on the result.

It isn't the wheel balance, we just got new tires last week, and the vibration was the same before and after. It may need an alignment, it's been a little over a year since it was last done

jwbrockman

Changed the ATF yesterday, and although it's only been driven 20 or 30 miles since then, it seems to have helped. I think we'll give it a few days of normal use, and if the problem hasn't been cleared up completely, I have been thinking about bringing it to the dealer for a machine ATF flush. Is that a good idea?

Josh

jwbrockman

After a little more research, I have determined that is probably not a good idea. My new plan is to buy a case of ATF-Z1 and give the trans a drain and fill every Saturday for the rest of the month. After that, if the problem is cleared up I'll be sure to change it every 15k.

golf

I assume you're dropping the pan to change the fluid.

If this is the case it will take more than a month of saturdays to completely change the fluid.

The torque converter holds about 3/4 the amount of transmission fluid , so if your trans. capacity is 12 quarts and dropping the pan drains 3 quarts there's 9 quarts left in the torque converter. Besides all you will be doing is contaminating the new fluid with the old.

Transmission flushes are a good idea if done right and at the right places. I certainly wouldn't go to one of those quick lub shops , where the guys are paid minimum wage .

The guys that know what they're doing will have the right equipment and expertise.

They use the system of dropping the pan attaching the machine ( non pressure ) that uses the transmission's pump to circulate the new fluid throughout every part of the transmission and removing all the old fluid. For example, if your tranny requires 15 quarts they use 20 quarts to ensure all the old fluid is gone.

Ross 2.0

There is no transmission pan to drop and the capacity of the trans is 10 quarts. it takes three drain, fill and drive cycles to flush the transmission.
Please understand what you are talking about before you post

golf

Touchy!